“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God …” (Deuteronomy 8:11, NASB)
We can easily joke about forgetfulness when we are not at a point in life where it presents a problem. How often I have uttered, “Oh it’s my Alzheimer’s!”, when I have forgotten to do something. But a change occurs in the way we regard the disease when someone we love and respect is diagnosed.
Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia. Senility. Forgetfulness. All words to describe a loss of memory. A loss of ability to know and do things. A loss of awareness. It is both hard and sad to deal with.
Several years ago, it was so hard to watch as a loved one forgot that we were her children, her loved ones. Yet she hugged and embraced a total stranger as if they were her loved one. In that forgetfulness, things get flipped, they get turned around, and often do not make any sense at all.
God has felt the pain of watching His own deal with forgetfulness. He has dealt with watching those He loves, His very own, also suffering from the disease of forgetfulness.
In looking in the concordance of my Bible, there are five times where we are told, “Do not forget the Lord your God……”.
It seems His chosen people – the Israelites, and us as well, have a problem with forgetfulness. This is most serious, as it is God whom we are forgetting.
We forget Who He is. We forget what He has done. We forget what He can do. We forget He is able. We forget.
The antonym of forget is remember. And God is so good to not only tell us “do not forget” but to tell us what we need to “remember”.
- “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8, NASB)
- “Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth.” (1 Chronicles 16:12, NASB)
- “Remember that you should exalt His work, Of which men have sung.” (Job 36:24, NASB)
- “Remember also your Creator …” . (Ecclesiastes 12:1, NASB)
- “… Remember the poor …” (Galatians 2:10, NASB)
- “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David.” (2 Timothy 2:8, NASB)
It is in the remembering that we grow in gratitude for all that He has done for us. Our hearts will be filled with wonder, with praise to the One we are “remembering”.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting …
Who remembered us in our low estate,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
(Psalm 136:1-3, 23, NASB)
We are to remember the very One who has already remembered us. He is thinking of us before we think of Him.
“Do not forget the Lord your God….”.
Photo by Rob Pumphrey on Unsplash
Being a parent has taught me to remember God better and how it feels to be forgotten - I understand how it feels to have a child who has forgotten for now - and, oh, how I want them to turn back and remember how loved they are!
ReplyDeleteI love in Peter's epistles how he talks about stirring up our minds by way of remembrance. We surely need to remember God's blessings, dealings with us, commandments, and so much more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maryleigh, being a parent helps me remember God more urgently. Having two prodigals I know the pain of being "forgotten." Great verses and encouragement here!
ReplyDelete